Harp construction for supporting electric lamp shades



Aug. 29, 1950 c. BRAMMING 2,520,795

HARP CONSTRUCTION FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LAMP SHADES Filed Sept. 9, 1947 2 Sheets$heet 1 JNVENTOR. C491. BEAM/WING YMW HA5 AGE/v7.-

1950 HM c BRAMMING 2,520,795

- CONSTNUCTION FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LAMP SHADES Filed Sept. 9, 1947 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

CARL BEfiMM/NG.

Patented Aug. 29, 1950 HARP coNsrRucnoN'FoR SUPPORTING ELECTRIC LAMP SHADES Carl Bramming'Anderson, Ind., assignorrto Alad- -din- Industries, Incor corporation of Illinois porated, Chicago, 111., a

Application-September 9, 1947, Serial nciiiaoss The invention comprises a harp construction for supporting'shades' of electric lamps, which includes a tubular base around and spaced from a vertically disposed lamp'socket and secured to the pedestal or-othersupport for saidsockeu-and a harp bracket supported by said base andextending upwardly therefrom in the form of a loop around the lamp bu'lbsupportedby the socket,

said bracket having at'its top or mid-portion a "fixture for supporting a shade around said bracket'and said bulb; The present invention isdirectedto the manner Of supporting the harp "bracket from the harp base and to the construction-of these parts by which the advantages of the-invention are secured,, which advantages are first, imparting positive support to the, harp bracket, second, facilitating quick and] easy assembling of "said parts, 'and' third,v producing said parts by "simple and inexpensive tool operations 1 to I the end that the cost of making the harp construction may be reduced to 'aminimum:

*It is the object of the invention to accomplish the results described, by'making-the harpbracket of a bent rodof resilientmetalhaving-outwardly extending lowerends engaging ,and fitting 'corresponding oppositely disposed apertures through the side wall of the tubular base ofythe construction, and holding said ends in said apertures to prevent movement of said ends axially of said tubular base, by positive and outwardly directed thrusts of the lower end portions of said bracket against the side wallof-said base which surrounds said end portions witha substantialclearance space between it:and the lamp' socket also surrounded by said side wall; it is a further*ob-' ject of the invention 'to restrain said bracket against turning movement on its outwardly "extending lower ends relatively to said tubular base, by providing said bracketabove said lower. ends with outwardly extending humps projecting through corresponding slots through the sidewall of said tubular base, 'so thatthe substantial out.- ward and opposite thrusts on'the lower end pore tions of-the bracketagainst'the side wall of the base of the harp, securely hold the lower-ends or the bracket in the base apertures andat the will be bettervunderstoodby; reference: to 'the accompanying drawings illustrating a' preferred embodiment thereof, in'whi'ch'zi 1::" Fig; 1 shows the harpconstruction 'in place on an electric lamp, the harp bracket and lamp socket and bulb being shown in front elevation and the harp baseand' upper qportionbf the clamp pe'destalorsupport beingshown in central, vertical, sectional view tak'en'alon'g the line |'i'-| in Fig.2; and L I r Fig. 2 shows the harp andglamp structure, :including the upper portion ofthelamp. support, in side elevation. i

If Similar" 1 numerals: refer' to similar parts throughoutthe'severaliviews. T7

- As shownin the drawingsja' socket; l ffor the lamp is shown aslsupport'ed with its axis invertical' positionfby i'an arm v2 extending 'from an internally threaded :sleeve 3, holding a threaded mounting collar '4 tightly against'the Sbottom,

horirontal'vvall of theharpibase'i. The collar 4 is screwed on to the upper end ofthe pedestal 6 of the lamp-"illustrating any desired support therefon a'nd a vertically disposed lamp bulb l. is shownin the socket-L The-socket I is shown-as provided with-electric"conductors- 8 and a consametime hold the bracket humps in the base slots, thereby preventing movement of the bracket in any direction relatively'to the base, unless the lower portions of the bracket are forcibly pressed together to disengage the bracket ends-andhumps from the base apertures and-slots, which-may be done at any time if 'it is desired todi'sasse'mble the harp structure'I Y l The abovea d other objects of the invention necting plug ;9, said socket bein'g'. also preferably '-provided' with a'switehing mechanism l 0 to control currentflowto the bulb 'l; i I All 'of thegpa'rts so'far des-cribe'd excepting the harp base5,- 4 are or kno-wn construction :and do not per' se constitutein the form shown, an essential' part of the present. invention, being shown merely to 'illustrateithe purpose of the invention 'and' its contemp'latedirelation to know lamp "structuresr I Theharp- -base i is preferably of formed-s eet metal, and ineludes 'a' horizontal bottom wall I 'I supported as described, or in an equivalent manher bythe 'lamp structure, to impart stable' 'support to the har' pstructure. J From the outer edge of 'the wall" I the base 5 "continues 'upwardly fin the former integral-and tubular sidewall lz which is preferably cylindrical, surroundin'gand substantially spaced from the socket], and provided-in its lower portion with opposite apertures |3,*receiving and closely fitting the lower horizontal ends-I 4 integral with and "extending-"outwardly fr'oin -fthe" lower portions of the harp bracket 15; The bracket l5 -preferably cornprises 'a rod of resilient'metal bent to the' 'fiorm described and so formed-that in use-its lower portions' are in thespace-betweenthe Wall lz anu the'socket I, with-the upper part of the bracket sufficiently compressed to exert substantialoutward thrusts by its lower portions against the wall !2 to securely hold the bracket ends 14, in the apertures 13, against accidental removal therefrom.

Above the ends l4, the bracket is provided with integral humps l6, extending outwardly through gye'rtical slots 51 1, therefor-in the wall [2, which slots closely fit "said humps laterall of said slots. Above the slots H, the wall 12 is preferably provided at its upper open end, with a rolled bead l8 stiffening the-npperend oissaid wall and providing a finish for the; pper end of the base 5. V t 7 Above the harp base 5, the braoket l'g extends upwardly and around the'bu-lb 1 with the general form of said bulb and spaced sufficiently therefrom to permit the readyinsertion gf tl e bulb into and the-removal of the same f rpm the socket I. At its upper mid-portion the bracket 15 carries a shade supporting fixture l9 which inlay-have any known formv and uwhich preferably africtionally engagesthe bracket 1,5 so that-said fixture and the shadeisupported by it aroundsaid :bracket and around the bulb :1, maybe adjusted or tilted zangularly as desired relatively-to the cbracket and bulbq l v The spacing of theiwall l2 tromsthe socket ,I

-is sufficient to readily permit :the sinsertion .and

removal .a desired, ,of :the ends 114, land :.humps IS, in assembling and disassembling theabracketa andbase ofsthe-harpau rln athe unstressed condition of :the ibraeket J15 removed from-the base 5, the lowemportionslof es-aid bracket are .spaeed "fromieach other a much greater distance than-wouldpermittheinsertion ,of said 210M121 portions into the open Amperend -of-.the tubular wall t2; toefiectssai-d insertionlin assembling the parts, said lower .erld portions-are forcibly pressedztoward each other until the; ends .M, and hum s lfi; will-enter the tubular .wall A2, thereby develepingin .the bracket 3:5 sub.- zf'stantial internal stresses tending tosepa-rate its glower portions; when said ,ends and .sai chumps are moved I into alignment with s ile apertures :h'i and ,slots 1 I, said (internal stresses. forcibly; $69. rate the rlowerrortions of the bracket, but only dQrfthe smalbdistance:reeuinedetozmove theends in into the apertures rand 'zl' i e homes :16. into the slots 1 e ebvrbut slishtly' decreasin sa d 7 nternal stresses and leaving the major portion sthereof operative tororciblnholdsaid p rtsi thsir assembled relation, thereby giving-the bracket .15 .:-substantial and stable support: i'-' Ihe.-n aterial ,or diameter of rod,,or :both, 1-01 :whiohfihe bracket 15 is made, are selected .:to :facilitate the develop,- ment of the internal stresses referred to; sinthat connection, ..-the selectionof 2a ,roddiamet r tha is substantial, has the further advantage. of pro.- vidin without the use :of any addi iona int rior par a surface of substantial-area of afriqtidnel en agement between the brac et 15 and the shade fixture 1:9,- ;insuring the holding or-tne shade in a y a justed or tilte position on the bracket- 7 t It b noted th onl the simnleste ille ohaniea o era ions. ar zresiuir d me ting the base 5 and the bracke 15' f thezli arp st uctureimaldn -thetase arbor tis-i med with inte a s de an. bett mwa th on urth r necessaryope a ens are per orat moraine Y to, make the ape tures 45 and sl ts l.=l .l-, b ad r. ran o tiona d n i in the th sk f t r ac ed that i i metal f rth wa l 1112;

1. Qt ne e sar iorine as o the more l to only necessary action of the humps i5 is to closely fit the slots I! laterall of said slots to prevent turning of the bracket] 5 on its lower ends relatively tothe base 5, in which case said outward thrusts are exerted entirely by the lower ends of the bracket I5 near the bottom wall H, thus fa- ,cilitati-ngsnaking thefb as e '5 of relatively thin -metalwi-thout danger of its deformation due to said outward thrusts. In making the bracket l5,

also inexpensive to manufacture.

While-I "have shown my invention in the par- ;ticularernbodiment described, I do not limit myself thereto as I may employ equivalents thereof without departing from th scope of the appended claims.

1 claim; V

1. In a harpico-nstruetionfor supporting shades -ofelectric lamps the combination. of a lampbulb --socket, a support irigidlylsecured tossaid .socket,

a=tubular harp'base-rigidlylsecured to said support and havinga side-wallaroundand substantially spaced from said.socket,- anda harpbracket having its lower end portions within said side wall=and extending above said side wall in :an

integral .loop around :and to clear the lamp bulb used in said.socket, each of said :lower end portions having a pair ;of spacedand outwardly -e-xtending projections, and said side wall having a pai-rto'f' perforations for receiving said "pair of projections from each of said harp .end portions,

.one of said perforations of each pair closely :fi-tting one projection of a corresponding pair daterally and axiallyof said harp base and the other of said pair of perforations .-closely fitting laterally the other o t said .-corresponding pair of projections, said bracket "being resilient and having internal-stresses tending to move itslsaid lower 1 portions away from each other and -posi tively and for'ciblyholdingsaid projections in said perforations, thereby restraining said harp bracket against movement relatively to said harp "base-and providingrigid support for said bracket tin l as 1 In al arp construetien for supportingshades of electric lamps, theconibir'iati'on of a lamp bulb socket, -a support rigidly secured, to said socket, a tubular" harp ba se rigidly secured to said support and having a side ;wall around and substantially spaced .rrom said socket, and a harpbracket havingits lower .end portions with.-

in said side wall'and extending above :said side wall :in an integral loop around and to ..clear the lampbulb used in said socket, :eaohof said-lower end portions r-havingza span" ,of spaced and out.- wardly extending 'prQjeetions, and said sidewall having ,a pair of, perforations :for receiving said pair of projectio s tram each (of sa d h rp nd portions, on :of said p rfo ations o cash lei-r closely fit ng ne prose nor-1a co es ond ins pai la era y-ar 11 of sa d h p base andthaot erro sa d n r e perl rations closely "ffom each of: said end portions :bing cylindrical and the other of said projections-from each of :said- -end portions being a' hump formed "from the corresponding end portion. 1 '3. In a harp construction for supporting-shades rof electric'lamps, the combination of :a lamp. bulb socket; a supportrigidly secured :tosaid socket, antubular harp base rigidlv'secured to said sup- :port'and having a side wall around andsubstanitiallyspaced from said-socket, andc harp bracket having its-lower end portions; within said side -wa'll and: extendingabove said i side 7 wall in. an integral loop around and to clear the lamp bulb used in 'said socketi.each of said lower end portions having a pair of spaced and outwardly extending projections, and said'side wall having .ag pair of perforations for receiving said pair of projections from each of said harp end portions, one of said perforations of each pair closely fitting one projection' of a corresponding pair laterally and axially of said harp base and the 'other of said .pair of perforations closely' 'fitting laterally the. other of 'said: corresponding pair of projections, said'bracket bein resilient and havinginternal stresses tending toamov'e its said lower-portions awayfrom each other-fend Lpos'itively and .forcibly'holding said projections in said perforations, thereby restraining said harp bracket against movement relatively to said harp base and providing rigid support for said bracket in said base, the spacing of said side Wall from said socket affording a clearance space for said projections for assembling and disassembling purposes.

4. In a harp construction for supporting shades of electric lamps, the combination Of-a, lamp bulb socket, a support rigidly secured to said socket, a tubular harp base rigidly secured to said support and having a side wall around and substantlally spaced from said socket, and a harp bracket having its lower end portions within said side wall and extending above said side wall in an integral loop around and to clear the lamp bulb used in said socket, each of said lower end portions having a pair of spaced and outwardly extending projections, and said side wall having a pair of perforations for receiving said pair of projections from each of said harp end portions, one of said perforations of each pair closely fitting one projection of a corresponding pair laterally and axially of said harp base and the other of said pair of perforations closely fitting laterally the other of said corresponding pair of projections, said bracket being resilient and having internal stresses tending to move its said lower portions away from each other and positively and forcibly holding said projections in said perforations, thereby restraining said harp bracket against movement relatively to said harp base and providing rigid support for said bracket in said base, one of said projections from each of said end portions being cylindrical and the other of said projections from each of said end portions being a hump formed from the corresponding end portion, the spacing of said side wall from said socket affording a clearance space for said projections for assembling and disassembling purposes.

5. A harp fixture for supporting lamp shades comprising a tubular harp base adapted for rigid support from a lamp pedestal and extending at a distance around the socket of the lamp, and a harp bracket of resilient metal rod including an upwardly extending loop portion and integral lower end portions inside of said harp base, each -,of said lower-:end portions having a, pair ,ofispaced and outwardly extending projections, the side ,wallofsaid: harp base being provided. with, arpair 0f p orations for receiving said pair of projece supshades distance around the socket of the. lamp, and a harp bracket of. resilient metal rodgincluding an I upwardly extending; loop portion and integral lower end portions inside of said harp base,- each 'of saidlower-end portions having a pairof spaced and outwardly-extending projections, the'side wall of saidharp base being providedwith a pair; of ';Derforations-for receiving'said pair of projections irom each of saidh'arp end portions,.one of-isaid perforations 50f each pair, closely fitting acne projection of a corresponding pair laterally and axially of said harp base and the other of said pair of perforations closely fitting laterally the other of said corresponding pair of projections, and said bracket having internal stresses positively pressing said lower end portions outwardly against said side wall and said projections into said perforations, thereby providing rigid support for said bracket in said base, one of said projections from each of said end portions being cylindrical and the other of said projections from each of said end portions being a hump formed from the corresponding end portion.

7. A harp fixture for supporting lamp shades comprising a tubular harp base adapted for rigid support from a lamp pedestal and extending at a distance around the socket of the lamp, and a harp bracket of resilient metal rod including an upwardly extending loop portion and integral lower end portions inside of said harp base, each of said lower end portions having a pair of spaced and outwardly extending projections, the side wall of said harp base being provided with a pair of perforations for receiving said pair of projections from each of said harp end portions, one of said perforations of each pair closely fitting one projection of a corresponding pair laterally and axially of said harp base and the other of said pair of perforations closely fitting laterally the other of said corresponding pair of projections, and said bracket having internal stresses positively pressing said lower end portions outwardly against said side wall and said projections into said perforations, thereby providing rigid support for said bracket in said base, the spacing of said side wall from said socket affording a clearance space for said projections for assembling and disassembling purposes.

8. A harp fixture for supporting lamp shades comprising a tubular harp base adapted for rigid support from a lamp pedestal and extending at a distance around the socket of the lamp, and a harp bracket of resilient metal rod including an upwardly extending loop portion and integral lower end portions inside of said harp base, each of said lower end portions having a pair of spaced and outwardly extending projections, the side 

